Getting Arboreal: A Nature Collection Part III

This has been virtual photo excursion that

documented a single trees journey from

Winter to Fall to Spring.

My tree is living in Wichita Kansas at

The Botanical Gardens.

You can visit my friend Julie's blog to follow links to see the trees that others have posted on their blogs

http://www.julieprichard.com/lostluggage/2010/4/5/attention-arborists-its-getting-arboreal-week.html

ar·bo·re·al

/ɑrˈbɔriəl, -ˈboʊr-/[ahr-bawr-ee-uhl, -bohr-]

–adjective
1.of or pertaining to trees; treelike.
2.Also, arboreous. living in or among trees.
3.Zoology. Inhabiting or frequenting trees (arboreal monkeys)

Winter

Fall

 

Spring

You are not here to duplicate & replicate.

You were born to initiate.

-- Alan Cohen

Have a great hair day!

I do not like when my jeans curl up! Flat Iron - multiple use!

voilà

Variant(s): or voi·la \vwä-ˈlä\

Etymology: French, literally, see there,

used to call attention, to express satisfaction or

approval, or to suggest an appearance as if by magic!

Unconditional Love from Every Cell

"Religion, philosophy, greeting cards, self-help books—they all tout the power of love. Being a chronic and earnest spiritual seeker, I have tried to love selflessly in all my significant relationships. I came closest to feeling and activating unconditional love as a mother. I frequently have given it as a friend and a sister, sometimes as a colleague. I fail at it at often (okay, daily) as a wife.


"But with my grandson, blissful and bountiful unconditional love flows from my every cell. I have so much of it I fear I'll drown the poor little guy, so I have to give the excess away."- Elizabeth Lesser

Beauty is always there.

Winter can be a humdrum crappy time of the year, especially for creative people. Creatives are always wanting/needing to create and nothing much inspiring is going on. People are closed up in their homes because of the cold. Nothing is growing, not very many little animals running around, there's not much color - just coldness. Classes, conferences, new stuff in the stores don't kick into gear until closer to Spring time.

Ahhh…thinking about Spring.

I love Spring, things are rested, I am rested and beginning to come alive and get going again!

I feel refreshed and alive in the Spring!

I bet I was a bear in a past life!

If I were a bear I'd make this into my hibernating cave.

This frozen fountain is in Kansas City.

I saw this beauty right in the middle of Winter.

Beauty is everywhere.

It's allways there.

It's there if we choose to see it.

Here is proof of beauty in the midst of humdrum crappy Winter...

I'M THANKFUL I'M NOT ALONE...

I'm in a DARK, UGLY, FAT, FRUMPY MOOD!!!

I'm feeling a bit like crap, which my grandson (6 yrs) informed me this morning that crap is a cuss word but that turd was OK. Still, what ever word I use to describe my funk it seems to return every year! I can't seem to get enthusiastic or find the energy to do much and this makes me super bumed out and crazy! I always know it's coming and I always try to mentally prepare myself and gently remind myself that this is the time to just be.  In our world today we are expected to be producing all the time - this is just not natural. We're meant to rest, retreat and recharge at some point. I guess nature thinks this is the best time of the year to do this, because the weather is chilly or as it is here just down right freakin' cold and icy! I wonder if freakin' is on the cuss list? Or maybe we get the urge to hibernate because we were all bears in a past life ! Oh I bet that's it!
To cheer myself up a little I decided to go blog crusin' . I started with Kelly Snelling's blog and to my delight she was feeling her shadow self emerge and was in  the dumps too! And even better so were most of the people who left comments! I'm sorry that my cyber friends are feeling poopie (cuss word?) but to know that I'M NOT ALONE cheered me up!

Anyway, I'm going to go brush my hair get out some paints and enjoy the rest of the day...

:-)

Santa's almost ready!

I need to give Santa a little touching up

before he heads out tonight!

Merry Christmas!

Adult or little girl?

I recently had my 52nd birthday and for some reason I still feel like a kid.

I rarely feel like the adult in a room even when it’s clear that I am.

Is this a good thing? I wonder…

What is age anyway, a frame of mind?

My mind is so  full of new thoughts and ideas and

I regularly have spontaneous impulses that I like to act on freely.

I love to pretend, draw, color, be silly…

Kid things right?

Hummm…

Wichita was beautiful this fall!

 These are 3 cute little trees that are on my short drive to the salon every day.

I never noticed them before.
Their colors were so vibrant and so beautiful this year

that they stood out in the crown of all the other trees!

I plan on taking these pictures to Johnson's or Brady's nursery

next spring to have them tell me what kind of trees they are.

I can visualize them in our yard!

This is a picture of trees on the river downtown...so pretty!

Mary Travers

Peace be with you.

Hey Hey! on a lighter note

Monday nights at 7:30 was all I waited for all week!

Have a great hair day! Becci

A goofy mohawk, junk & eyes thrill my day!

I'm not at the salon on Mondays so this is my run around and follow my nose day. Monday is a peaceful day to have off as oppose to a weekend day because there really aren't very many people out and about. Most people are at work and kids are either in school most the year and in the summer there still aren't' any kids around. I wonder where they are. Day care? Basements playing video games? I'm not sure where they are but come to think about it... I do know they aren't out playing in the neighborhood. That's a sound I miss.

Today on my way to the antique mall

I saw a great mohawk on a car at Quick Trip.

Yes, a car!

Super!

I bought a bag of odds and ends of broken jewelry at the antique mall and it turned out to be well worth the $10 bucks I lucked out! Lots of goodies to use in making my junk jewelry necklaces and bracelets!

This interesting broach is especially neat. Actually, I think it's worth at least $5 bucks! It's made of little brass balls that look like acorns attached to a chain and then attached to the pin back.

Then when I got home the eyes I ordered from EBay arrived!

They are exactly what I was wanting!

These type of eyes are hard to find, if you can believe it! I use them in the tutorials for my sock creatures in both "Stuffed" and in "Soft Dolls and Animals" magazines! Rats! I did finally find a source so if you are needing some let me know. I just put some in the mailbox for a lady who is making her version of "Apricot Star".

Have a great hair day! :-)

NAHA 20 - North Americam Hairstyling Awards

I'm going to introduce myself to Robert...

Robert Lobetta and Becci at NAHA 20

I have wanted to be part of the North American Hairstyling Awards competition for quite a few years now. I have a NAHA file folder that I've been collecting ideas and articles in that have dates as far back as 1998. For one reason or another I talked myself out of ever participating. I had reasons that were understandable and some that were not at all. I have to admit the worst excuse was that I decided I just wasn't a good enough hairstylist. Blah.

So about two weeks ago I made a final decision to buy a ticket and get myself to Las Vegas to see the award presentations live and to decide once and for all if I really want to or could compete!

I actually am very creative in darn near every thing I create so I believe I would do very well with this challenge! I understand now after my weekend in Vegas that the true and most important reason for giving this a try is actually the process of it all. It's not just the award, it's about the brain storming for ideas, finding models, photographers etc. and then it's the creating the hair styles and seeing them all come together beautifully in the end!

~ The process is the reward ~

Have a great hair day! Bec

PS. I think I'll get a sexy little evening dress next year!

Dehydration - Not to be taken lightly!

I found out the hard way that dehydration is serious! I just didn’t realize how easy this can happen and how sudden, or how seemingly sudden! I’m very active at the salon with walking back and forth and standing all day but I don’t get my heart rate up. I get my regular check-ups, breast and PAPs etc. and am very healthy. Although looking back on the past few weeks and even months I realize that I hadn’t been drinking water much and some days not at all! I got my wake up call loud and clear that dehydration is not to be taken lightly – at all!
I am 51 years old and think I am close to menopause. I haven’t skipped or stopped my periods but I’ve been experiencing a few hot flashes especially at night and nothing bad just uncomfortable for a few minutes. I wake up at night and have never ever done that before, I love my sleep! Another symptom I’ve been having is forgetfulness or hazy thinking…I don’t like that but I figure its part of the process…Well not always! Dehydration can have much of the same symptoms! I have to shamefully admit that I do not drink much water at all. I often work 8 hours straight and not pee once! I am booked with haircuts and colors so tight that I skip brakes a lot and when I do have a break we have a Star Bucks coffee machine at the salon and to keep up my pace that’s what I usually grab to drink. Coffee is a strong diuretic and compounds my dehydration! I’m comparing menopause symptoms to dehydration symptoms because they are similar. I’m wondering how many women are just dehydrated when they say they are so tired all the time or that they are so ditzy, scatter brained and forgetful.

Note to self:

Dearest Becci,
Take care of yourself – please! You are a valuable soul, a shining star and you still have to much left to do and offer this world to waste it by neglect. Your body is a gift from God. Respecting it is only right. It’s an honor and your duty to take care of your body (gift). Eat well, drink lots of water, exercise and get plenty of good sleep. This is the stuff you were taught in grade school, the good ole’ basics! Nothing you don’t know! If you are too busy to take care of yourself and to say thank you, you are too busy.

Love, Becci

WebMD.com says: Without water the body begins to shut down. Symptoms of severe dehydration include altered behavior, such as severe anxiety, confusion, sleepiness or not being able to stay awake; faintness that is not relieved by lying down; an inability to stand or walk; rapid breathing; a weak, rapid pulse; and loss of consciousness. Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better barometer is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration.

When to see a doctor:

If you're a healthy adult, you can usually treat mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids. Get immediate medical care if you develop severe signs and symptoms such as extreme thirst, no urination for eight hours, shriveled skin, dizziness and confusion.

Symptoms:

Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:
• Dry, sticky mouth - Yes
• Sleepiness or tiredness -YES!
• Thirst – Not usually. Seems like I would but I guess I’m thinking and visiting so much I don’t realize.
• Decreased urine output - yes
• Few or no tears when crying – Not a problem
• Muscle weakness - yes
• Headache - Sometimes
• Dizziness or lightheadedness – Sometimes

Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:

• Extreme thirst – Not really
• Extreme fussiness or sleepiness; irritability and confusion - Yes
• Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes - Yes
• Lack of sweating - Yes
• Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber - Yes
• Sunken eyes - No
• Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn't "bounce back" when pinched into a fold – Yes, though it was from getting older…
• Low blood pressure - No
• Rapid heartbeat - Yes
• Fever - No
• In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness – YES! I fainted at the restaurant! I was so embarrassed! This is woke me up to the fact that I was not taking care of me!

~Please stay healthy~

It's Prom Time! AND My California Trip!

Saturday was prom in our area. I can hardly believe how many girls got their hair and make-up done! We had 37 young divas come into the salon!

Judging by this, I don't see signs of a bad economy here!

I didn't get a chance to get pictures of some of the girls who were getting their hair done but

I thought I'd show you a few pictures of an up-do I did on my mannequin for a display.

Doing up-do's puts me into the same creative mode that drawing or sculpting does. It's intuitive and and in most cases can't be repeated twice! I've tried to take step by step pictures of my hair creations so I could try to reproduce a look but for some reason I still can't get it to ever look the same again! That's' OK because that makes for one of a kind hair do's for proms and weddings!

-----------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY April 24th is the day

That I've been waiting for for months!

My son Sean and I are heading out early Friday to San Diego. When we get there we will rent a car, get checked in to our hotel then head on over to the baseball stadium to see the Padres play!

Then the next day I'm gong to meet up with my friend Julie who I met last year on the Internet via Michelle Wards GreenPepperPress Street Team. We have never met in person so I am so super excited to finally do just that! The two of us are going up for a two day art party at Suzi Blu's house by the beach! Two blissful days of painting and creating eating, and what ever we come up with!

While I'm having fun at the art party Sean is gong to do his own thing. He'll drive around and see what he can see, lay on the beach, go on a boat ride, what ever he decides he wants to do!

I used Avon's "Anew" serum!

OH NO!!!

I have only used my "Anew" 2 times!

I remembered my freedom today!

Click the image for a larger view

I do have choices and I'm happy to remember this today! This is something I forget this so often. I have the luxury of planning my life and a cow doesn't -

POOR COW!

Thinking about this I am finding myself wanting a

"Five Guys Cheeseburger"!

"A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances". (quote by James Allen)

Have a great hair day! Becci stagnant

New Year - New Background :-)

I figured out how to add a new background thanks to

Plo @ http://amothintoabutterfly.blogspot.com/ And

The Background Fairy @ http://www.backgroundfairy.com/.

This is a Christmas background but it matched my There is No Box critter so well! WOW!

I was checking out the latest at the GPP Street Team page @

http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/2009/01/crusade-no-26-winner.html .

While following all the fun links I realized some of the pages had backgrounds different than what Blogger offers and I liked them better, they were more creative! I'm thinking I can make my own background with my own art...as soon as I can figure out how to write the code for it, obviously this can be done! :-)

This new Year - 2009 I plan a few simple things...

~Create just a little more~

~Sleep when I want too~

and

~Stay out of the fridge a lot more! ~

Have a great hair day and a GREAT 2009! Becci

How to make PERFECT lumpy Cream of Wheat

My Mom never did care about reading directions much less follow a recipe

and when it came to making our hot cereal this was no different! SoOOOooo

we always had lumpy oat meal, Cream of Wheat, Malto-Meal ...

What's funny about this is I LOVE LUMPY HOT CEREALS! The lumpier the better!

To do this on purpose takes a bit of practice.

The most important thing to remember is that you

always add the cereal to the boiling milk,

never to cold milk!

Add the Cream of Wheat to the boiling milk and then don't stir it right away, wait just a minute, turn the heat down and then stir so it doesn't burn.

This is going to make some good lumps!

Oh yes, this is

PERFECT!

Top it of with some butter and sugar and enjoy!

How to Sew a Creatures Nose by Becci Renfro

What you will need to sew a dimensional face on your soft doll or creature:

• Your Soft doll or creature, of course. You can make one your self , check Goodwill or yard sales etc. or buy a plain one at the craft store already made and then use this technique to spiffy it up with some dimension.


• Long needle. Look in the doll making supply section at your hobby store.


• Heavy upholstery thread to match the face unless you are going to paint your creature with acrylic paint. In that case the color of the thread won't matter at all.
• Pen or pencil to draw in the lines for your nose, mouth, brows or?

I think that's about it...

If you have a question leave me a comment and

I'll get back with you ASAP!

Some tips on needle sculpting:

• After sewing back and forth only a few inches pull the thread. If you sew too long of a row and then pull sometimes it's hard for the thread to tighten properly and the thread can break. ARGGG! It's hard to break upholstery thread but it can be done so just go easy and you'll be OK...
• When pulling your thread you may not need to pull very tight. If you like how your critter is looking then keep it looser. If not then pull as tight as you want! Remember just be gentle.

After my creature is sewn and I'm happy with it's face I'm going to paint him with acrylic paint. Stampington & Company will be launching a brand new magazine titled "Stuffed" … in this new magazine I will describe how I paint my creatures...So0o000o stay in touch!

If you noticed yes, there is a butt on my work table in the background! Cute isn't it? HA! This is the body for the Santa I'm making which I hope to get finished for this Christmas. He is needled sculpted just like the creature I'm demonstrating here in this post. So you see, it's endless what can be done with needle sculpting soft dolls or creatures!

Have a great hair day! Becci